Just more of the same...another trimmer gas tank's worth of work on the ditch. I'm some over halfway done.
Just to show you how deceptive the photo is here's the same ditch from the other end. And also deceptive as it doesn't show how steep the sides really are.
Since the flowering senna is coming out from the base of the small tree I went ahead and cut back all the dead branches leaving the trunk and stubs. The whole thing will have to be cut down once the new growth becomes substantial.
I even started to cut back the gardenia some, one more on the survivor list, since it's starting to put out some little nubs of green at the bottom but the first small branch I cut was green, oops, so I contented myself with snipping off just a few of the very smallest stems. Then I cut all the dead canes and dead ends from the freeze out of the pink heritage rose and cut the last three or four banana tree stumps down to ground level. Fifteen new little ones are coming out all around the edges but not a single one of the big ones. Five of them were dying anyway since they had bloomed last summer.
One clump of nile lilies are all growing, the ones in the pot did not survive and two of the other three small clumps are starting to show a little green. Other survivors...the turk's cap has come back and the rangoon creeper on the fence is putting out new nubs of growth at ground level though not from the main big root but from a branch that rooted itself about 18” away. Still nothing from the hibiscus, star of india, mexican bird of paradise, hummingbird bush, bougainvillea, the pink desert willow vine, or the yellow angel trumpet in the ground (but I think it will return) or the pink crinum lilies which were/are in a pot.
Just got a call from the dentist and my new crowns are finally in so getting them tomorrow. And my bone density scan, rescheduled twice, is Wednesday and these are my last health care visits til fall when I have to start dealing with the cataracts that are developing. Oh joy! Aging is so much fun.
The first poppy.
Is it too steep to mow that strip with a mower? That's so much work!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you're finding even more survivors. I hope that even more show some green soon.
And glad to hear you don't have any more med visits for awhile. Believe it or not, even READING about other blogger's medical issues that require doctor visits makes me anxious. That's how weird I am about the issue.
And no, getting old is neither fun nor easy.
I think so. def too steep for a riding mower. my neighbor thinks his push mower would do the job and has offered for me to borrow it. going down wouldn't be a problem but I don't think I could haul it up again and at the end I haven't done yet it's even deeper and steeper.
DeleteSo far, all I've done is survey my mess. I'm starting to feel guilty, after reading your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteAh that poppy, nature has such stunning colours.
ReplyDeleteWell, that is a load of work, as per usual for our dear Ellen of the
ReplyDeletegarden. We have only just gone outside today for the first time in a longggggg time. The sun came, It was glorious. Have not started a garden yet, still thinking about fence issues.
It's good so much of your old yard is rejuvenating! Even the ditch weeds.
ReplyDeletenot the ditch weeds! they could have stayed dead and I'd be happy.
DeleteYou're more energetic and vigorous than most people half your age! Beautiful poppy.
ReplyDeletetrying to take advantage of it while I can.
DeleteI finally met my new eye doc last week. I liked him, and he's probably twenty years younger than me, so I may outlive this one. At least he shouldn't retire on me like the last one did. The best news of the week is that my poison ivy has stopped itching and is drying up. I've GOT to learn to recognize that stuff -- or at least think about it from time to time when I'm running around.
ReplyDeleteoh, poison ivy. I learned early on growing up what that looks like. there's a lot of it around here. it makes berries that the birds eat so it comes up in the yard and flower beds. one of my spring chores is going around the yard with gloves and a bucket pulling it up before it gets established. I've already located four or five sprouts.
DeleteYou do get a work out keeping up with your yardwork! You have more energy than me, Ellen!
ReplyDeletewell, I am slowing down. I can't work all day non-stop like I used to. plus, I like physical activity.
DeleteI'm always impressed with your physical stamina, at any age. You certainly need it with that big area to cultivate.
ReplyDeleteLove that red poppy!! A whole vase of them would be so fantastic! Take it easy--you've earned a big break!
ReplyDeleteAhh, the poppy would make me so happy! Nothing quite so satisfying as looking back at the end of a long day of gardening. I do all the push mowing around here. I find it soothing until someone interrupts me!
ReplyDeleteThe poppy is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI really miss our neighbor's poppies! He was the same one with the wisteria... You're making me homesick for Ohio!
ReplyDelete